Numb Left shin

[GameHunter]

Hi Doc, I had been having a sore left side of the left knee pain for about a couple of months. I recently decided to get back to the gym as I am a bit over weight. i started with the usual tredmil and weight lifting. i get pretty bad shin splints and usually only fast walk instead of run due to this problem. A few days ago i did some pretty heavy leg presses to work my legs after my teedmill. Then i did leg lifts. i have always had strong legs. For the past couple of days my left shin feels dumb. not the whole bottom leg, just the front directly on the shin. I fell that during the course of the day as I go about my regulat business it gets worse. then it is usually less in the morning but still numb. Is this releated to a knee injury or have i done something else to it?

Thanks,
Peter

[GameHunter]

Thank you for your response. I will check with my GP for a possible referral to an orthopedic.
Peter

[Michael L Gross, MD]

An MRI would be useful to confirm shin splints or a stressfracture of the tibia.  Another possibility is a herniated disc in your back irritating a nerve and creating numbness in your leg. This is even possible in the absence of back pain.  See an orthopedist for a complete evaluation if this persists.